The
George Mason men’s basketball team opens play in the 2012 Ezybonds
Global Payments U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Friday afternoon,
taking on Atlantic Sun Conference foe Mercer at 2:30 p.m. local time. It
is the first meeting between the Bears and Patriots

Mercer comes to the Islands with an unblemished 2-0 record on the
season, having decisive victories in games against Sewanee and
Oglethorpe. The Bears, who are without the services of Atlantic Sun
Conference Preseason Player of the Year Langston Hall due to an ankle
injury, have been led by 11.5 points per game on 58.8 percent shooting
by senior Travis Smith.

With
a win, the Patriots will face the winner of the New Mexico/UIC game on
Sunday at 7 p.m. Atlantic time (6 p.m. ET). A loss would set up the
Patriots for a matchup with the loser of that game at 3:30 p.m. local
time on Saturday.